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Post by Gawain on Aug 1, 2008 12:55:29 GMT -5
*Gawain looked thoroughly confused by the sudden intensity of the conversation, and he crawled a bit back, looking between the two of them.*
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Post by Nightfall Siofra on Aug 1, 2008 13:07:50 GMT -5
*Nightfall suddenly appeared in the doorway.*
"Hey you two. Give the kid a break! He's only a few months old! Geeze, what's wrong with you people? Don't you see you're frightening him?"
*She smiled and looked at Gawain, offering him her hand.*
"Come on, Gawain, let's go out and get some fresh air. You look like you could need it."
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Post by Gawain on Aug 1, 2008 13:37:27 GMT -5
*Gawain nodded, dizzy in the talk of responsibility. He took her hand without question but immediately let out a sharp gasp and pulled it away again.*
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Post by Nightfall Siofra on Aug 1, 2008 13:40:29 GMT -5
*Nightfall looked sadly at him and retreated her hand.*
"Oh, I'm sorry Gawain. I didn't mean to hurt you. You're not hurt, are you?"
*She looked at his hand, and her golden eyes were filled with concern for him.*
"It's because I am a part demon, isn't it? But I am part elf too. I don't want to harm you."
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Post by Gawain on Aug 1, 2008 13:44:09 GMT -5
*Gawain looked up up at her, terrible confusion in his eyes. He looked at his mother and Merlin and back to Nightfall again. His lip trembling, he pushing himself up and ran towards the bedroom, locking the door behind him.*
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Post by Merlin on Aug 1, 2008 13:48:53 GMT -5
*Merlin sighed and stood up.*
"Now girls - now you've done it. Do you now understand why I want you two to stay away from his lessons? Go outside and leave this to me."
*Malefica and Nightfall looked at each other and left the room. Merlin poofed himself gone into a cloud of smoke and turned up in the bedroom. He looked at Gawain with mild sadness in his eyes.*
"Life isn't always easy, is it, lad? Do you need to talk about it?"
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Post by Gawain on Aug 1, 2008 14:00:41 GMT -5
*Gawain frowned, shaking his head as he pushed away fresh tears. Realizing that Merlin wouldn't be able to see that, he called out hoarsely.*
"No!"
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Post by Merlin on Aug 1, 2008 14:08:31 GMT -5
*Merlin felt sorry for the boy. Standing behind Gawain he didn't see the boy's tears, but he placed a strong, warm hand on his shoulder.*
"I am sorry your mother told you this the way she did. I wanted to give you time to adjust to your new surroundings and grow up a little first. The fight won't happen yet."
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Post by Gawain on Aug 1, 2008 14:19:54 GMT -5
*Gawain didn't stop shaking his head.*
"Go. Away."
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Post by Merlin on Aug 1, 2008 14:23:25 GMT -5
*Merlin sighed and removed his hand.*
"As you wish, Gawain. If you need me, I'll be in the practice room, training your mother."
*He smiled for a moment, and put something down on the floor, next to Gawain. It was the tortoise from the beach. Then he left the room.*
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Post by Gawain on Aug 1, 2008 14:28:06 GMT -5
*Gawain stared at the tortoise, how slowly he moved. And part of him wanted that. But everything was so fast and so loud and he felt like he was falling apart. So he did the only thing he could think of. He crawled to the bed, kneeling beside it and began to pray. He did not come out the rest of the day or the night that followed.*
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Post by Merlin on Aug 1, 2008 14:40:37 GMT -5
*Merlin had sent Nightfall and Malefica home, and now he was guarding the fortress alone. He was upset with Malefica for upsetting the boy like that.
To calm down, he sat down by the table and started reading, while he was humming a tune to himself. The tune was soothing when he felt upset.*
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Post by Gawain on Aug 1, 2008 14:46:42 GMT -5
*The next morning, the door opened and out of it came not a boy, but a grown man, his sheet draped about his waist.*
"Sir, if you will be so kind as to provide me with more proper vestments, I shall be ready to serve as I am needed."
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Post by Merlin on Aug 1, 2008 14:59:03 GMT -5
*Merlin blinked when he saw the man in the doorway. Then he pulled himself together and bowed politely, and with pride.*
"Sir Gawain. It will be my greatest pleasure."
*He quickly left the room, then came back with men's clothing.*
"I am proud of you, son. When you are dressed, I think Nightfall will be ready with your breakfast."
*He looked at Gawain with a smile.*
"Your mother will be proud of you."
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Post by Gawain on Aug 1, 2008 15:03:48 GMT -5
*Gawain took the clothing with a bow to the sage.*
"Thank you, sir. But I did nothing to be proud of. It was the work of the Almighty that transformed me, as he transforms all men."
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